Your involvement is needed as Congress works on a number of critical issues that will affect the economy and Medicare in the new year. Notably, Congress is addressing the nation’s “fiscal cliff” issues by proposing major tax and spending policy changes.
Once again, drastic cuts are scheduled to impact Medicare physician reimbursement rates as a result of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. In addition to this 26.5 percent cut to physician payments, a 2 percent across-the-board “sequestration” spending cut will affect Medicare. Unless Congress acts quickly to find solutions to these problems, these drastic and unreasonable cuts to Medicare will take effect Jan. 1, 2013.
The AASM is working with the American Medical Association (AMA) and contacting Congress regarding the SGR and sequestration issue. AASM is concerned that if these cuts are implemented, many sleep providers will be unable to continue to treat Medicare patients. The consequence of enacting these extreme cuts will cause a substantial and severe access to care crisis for Medicare patients.
Please use the AASM template letter to contact your representatives on this important matter. Members can locate your Representative here and Senator here.
The letter asks that Congress resolve the Medicare crisis quickly so that physicians can continue to care for Medicare patients. The AASM encourages all members to contact your federal representatives and urge them to work across party lines to address these looming cuts before it is too late.
